Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif intense love story ‘Humko Deewana Kar Gaye’ has just hit theatres. So Akki talks about it and his upcoming films.

How is Humko Deewana Kar Gaye different from your previous work?
To start with, Humko…’ begins where most love stories end. By which I mean, when two people are living together and everything is going well, there’s a perfect match. Suddenly, one person falls in love with somebody else. It happens in everybody’s life. Even if the person you fall in love with is imperfect for you, it happens. You can’t predict love. The USP of the film is that people can relate to this subject. Sometimes, you have to go back on your commitment. Love is not like a business deal, where you have everything planned out. It happens that you sometimes can’t work it out; you realise your heart is somewhere else. ‘Humko…’ starts at a point like that.

You've mentioned that it's a very personal story. How?
We’ve treated it with a great amount of intensity, and it has a very real slice of life. It’s taken from a real story, about a couple from Toronto. (more…)

Evergreen lyricist Gulzar was nominated for three of his works in this year’s Filmfare awards - ‘Dheere jalna’ from ‘Paheli’, ‘Chup chup ke’ from ‘Bunty Aur Babli’ and ‘Kajra re’ again from ‘Bunty Aur Babli’. Of course his ‘Kajra re’ was the hot favorite of everyone. Gulzar thinks this award wining song is not devoid of poetry. At this moment he is writing songs for editor Shirish Kunder’s directorial debut ‘Jaan-E-Man’ and wants to learn the language of mainstream cinema.

You seem to be on a quest for new peaks to conquer.
Recently I returned from Chennai after a music sitting with Mani Ratnam and A.R. Rahman. We are working together again after ‘Dil Se’ for Mani’s ‘Guru’. Again we’ll try to attempt a different sound. Guru has a serious layer below the surface, which I’ll tap as a poet. Mani Ratnam is the only director who asks for abstract images. It’s lovely to share my poetry with him. His Hindi is getting better. But I’m lagging behind. My Tamil should improve soon.

As a lyricist, I’d say my first turning point as an abstract lyricist was ‘Humne dekhi hai un aankhon ki mehekti khushboo’ in ‘Khamoshi’. Another turning point was Mani Ratnam’s ‘Dil Se’ where with ‘Chaiyyan chaiyyan’ my sufiyana phase started. Now let’s see, perhaps with ‘Guru’ there will be another turning point. It’s wonderful to work with a director who expresses scenes musically. (more…)

Sonu is a youth icon among singing aspirants.

I had not noticed this development until two to three years ago when Shaan told me that many of the songs that the contestants sang on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa were mine. Now, when I’m a judge on Indian Idol I do realise that the contestants tend sing my difficult songs like ‘Tera jadoo chal gaya’, ‘Zindagi maut na ban jaye’ and ‘Satrangi re’. I’ve now begun to realise that good work always reaches people’s hearts. So I just do my work. As a singer I’m far from perfect and maybe I’ll never get there, but there is no harm in trying. I am 32 and hope to do a lot as a human and a singer in the years to come. (more…)